Actuating device



ug. 2, 1949. c. F. HAMMANN 2,477,599

ACTUATING DEVICE Filed March 18, 1944 5 Shets-Sheet 1 Ag. 2, 1949. c. F. HAMMANN ACTUATING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 18, B44

L. 30 I?? v8?? "Z Carl Z7". Hummm??? ug. 2, 1949. C, F, HAMMANN 2,477,599

ACTUATING DEVICE 4 Filed March 18, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 g Mg ug- 2, 1949 c. F. HAMMANN 2,477,599

ACTUATING DEVICE I Filed March 18, 1944 V 5 sheets-sheet s I?? vewor Carl Fdmmanv? Patented Aug. 2, 1949 @STATES PATENT QFFICE 2,471,599 AGTLUAI-ING DEVICE Carl .IIarnmann, Boston, Massi., t9 v,Pintosvzviteli, laitrewed, cambrige? Mese a corporation of Massachnsetts Applicatien :Merch 1;8, lflhserial Np. 527,135

,12Y Clams- 'is sur zersomadelate and.emensiveiesneciany .if quickly reversible smotion .is required.

LSomrneiof the principal objects of 4myinvention me to provide a mechanical :auxiliary actuating., cleMce Lvvvrncl'lines-poneis instantaneously, which :is .able -to.. ini',roduceconsiderable driving ener-gy into a control system, which isenot damaged-.by yconflicting actuating impulses, which Vis very rugged andcompact and lends itselfwell for .installationuupon orl'close =to .machinery to .be Vcontrolled, anclionactuationvbyvany desirable control :impulses especially. also `comparativelyWeak .elec- `trical currents. Y

4l'l'lnese and other v'objects Vandaspects will be 'more fully apparent fromithe-folloWing descriptionof apractical embodiment illustrating the genus ofthe invention. The description refers to a drawinginvwhich fliig. 1 a partial central Vertical crossfsection, portions-offwhich are shownin eleijat-ion;

einig.' 2 a cross-section takenwon linej2`2 of VFig. 1,portiens of Whiclraresliewnin elevation;

Y Eliggaefragnientary crosssection ta'kenomny line -23 of Fig. 1 particularly illustrating trie pivotegl @ams and" fsaxilrolls:

Fia 5 ainagmeetaryfwssseetionftelsen enline (cmg-:1:15)

Z ofl Eig. 2,` 7spine portions being shoyvn in elevar i* 6 a iragnientaryfcrossvsectontakenpn .line lofSAig. "":e portionslieing `shot/'n in .leifaf non; Y* @Egi7 @90mg ,fflsgllelltfy CEQSSfeG-QD 1R91? tives ef are storia? elevati@ fl'd ailier portions being broken a y; Fiel? .a fragleellefylee" .el side elsietioeand which isette ed? Sieg @Qteffy meansof i5 (Fcl- The .Qrtisn .3.5 forni aar Chamber which its :tetvms that any Suitableear may e .ensasedwithrhe spursearloated in hlscsmpar ment.

i111. actuel .use the Afrechemism, rnounted within the vheus:ina-3,2 fispartiallysubnnreeoi.in ,lubricat- .Mpllnnablgk 2??, i0 meter tl ,is air tasted, las @hub sportlich 43 1 with a' bushing'f- IQumalledlin-bushineisfacrankshaft emarineaseaiwoltionllaed a Crankfpingtl @Fiss 1","2,`3,' 6,75 s'iign'nif xc'etric witn reefarttg einen wenn @lief membsrzgwhh is recessed tore- Qeivefthefsfidfofytheenvier Shaft 4.2120 which .it is kyediatfll VBe'lf'v/` the hub 31 of plate 20 is located aseqwhich is journalled on the drive shaft 46 by means oi a bushing 48 (Figs. l, 5, 6, 7). The upper central portion of the rocker comprises rocker slide-ways 58 (Fig. 6) containing the crank-pin gyratory slide which is journallcd on the crank pin 4|. Thus, when the motor 3| is in operation, the gyratory slide 5| moved in the slide-ways 58 by crank pin 4| causes the member 49 to rock from one side to the other, therebyM producing an oscillating action. Y

Between the hub portion 52 of the pawl rocke 49 and the bearing hub portion 41 of the housing 32 are mounted two ratchet-toothed discs 53 and 54 which form the driven members of a coupling and both cf which are keyed at 55 to the drive shaft 46 and spaced apart from each other by means of the washer 56. The ratchet teeth on the discs or wheels 53 and 54 are pitched op-Y positely to each other, as clearly shown in Fig. 7 in which a portion of the disc 54 has been cut away to show the rear disc 53. This figure also shows ratchet pawls 53a and 54a which are adapted to engage the ratchet teeth of the discs 53 and 54 respectively when actuated by connecting mechanism as will be explained presently, and which pawls constitute the driving members of the coupling which comprises also the above ratchet wheels 53, 54.

Figs. 5 to 8 show the pawl actuators 51 and 58 which engage and disengage the pawls 53a and 54a. The pawl actuators 51 and 58 are blocks slidably engaged in actuator slide-ways 59 and 68 respectively, located in the oscillating pawl rocker 49, and are provided with spring plungers 6| and 62 respectively, which slide in holes within the pawl actuators and the free, rounded ends of which bear against the side walls of the rocker hub 52 (Fig. 6)

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4 to 8, the pawl actuators 51, 58 are T-shaped blocks which slide with L their flanges in grooves formed by the depending lianges 59a which form actuator slide-ways 59, 60 and U-shaped retaining pieces 592) screwed to slide-way ilanges 50a. The outer faces of actuator blocks 51, 58 are recessed to receive the pawls to be described presently, which pawls are confined by L-shaped cover pieces 51a, 58a. The pawl actuators 51 and 58 are normally maintained in disengaged position, as shown at the left-hand side of the figures, by means of the f compression springs 6I a and 62a respectively, which are located at the back end of the plungers within the plunger guiding holes. In similar manner, the pawls 53a and 54a, carried in pawl actuators 51, 58, are normally urged inwardly by means of the plunger and spring 53h and 53e in pawl 53a, and plunger and spring 54b and 54C in pawl 54a, respectively. It will thus be seen that while the actuators 51 and 58 are normally pushed outwardly in opposite directions, the pawls 53a and 54a are normally pushed inwardly toward each other.

Pawls 53a and 54a are provided with flanges 53d, 54d which limit the inward movement of the pawls, for reasons which will appear hereinbelow.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 9, openings 63 and 64 are provided through theback of the rocker 46 through which protrude hub portions and 66, respectively, of the pawl actuators 51 and 58. Mounted on the hubs 65 and 66 of the actuators are cam rolls 61 and 68 respectively, which are secured in place by means of the shouldered screws 69.

Journalled on the main drive shaft 46 are ospin 19.

cillating cam levers, generally indicated at 10 and 1| (Figs. 3, 4, 5). The cam 18 is provided with an internal stepped track, the low portion being indicated at 10a and the high portion at 18h. The cam roll 61 is adapted to engage the high and low portions of the track of the cam 1U and in a similar mannercam roll 69 is adapted to engage the. high and low track portions lla and 1lb respectively of the cam 1|, so that relative movement of roll and cam accordingly shifts the position of pawl 53a relatively to ratchet wheel 53.

The cams 10 and 1| can be independently moved, as follows. Attached to the cam 18 is a link member 12 which is pivoted to the cam by means of the pin 13. Attached to the lower end of link 12 is a tension spring 14 which is anchored to a post 15 secured to plate 20. The upper end of the link 1'2 is shaped to form a yoke 16. Mounted on the upper portion of the central supporting plate 20 is an electromagnetic solenoid 11 with a magnetic core member 18. The yoke portion 16 of the link 12 is pivoted to the lower end of the core member 18 by means of the Thus, when the solenoid is energized, the core member 18 will move up and the cam 18 will pivot on the shaft 46 against the tension of spring 14. When the solenoid 11 is deenergized, the spring 14 will pull the cam 10 down, as shown in the drawings. Similarly, cam 1| is provided with a link and pin 8|, tension spring 82, anchor pin 83, yoke 84, solenoid 85, solenoid core 86, and pivot pin 81. When the solenoid is energized, the cam 1| is pivoted upwardly on the shaft 46.

Throughout the drawings the solenoid 11 is shown deenergized and the solenoid 85 energized, which places the cam 10 into lowered position while the cam 1| is in elevated position. In these respective positions cam roll 61 and pawl slide 51 are pushed outwardly by the plunger springs 6|a since the cam roll 61 is permitted to engage the low cam track portion 10a, thereby holding the pawl 53a out of engagement with the ratchet teeth of disc 53. On the other hand, due to the fact that the cam 1| is in its elevated position, the cam roll 68 is engaged by the high track portion 1lb causing the pawl actuator 58 to move inwardly thereby bringing the pawl 54a into engagement with the ratchet teeth of the disc 54, as shown in Fig. 7.

Keyed to the end of the shaft 46 is the gear 88 such that ratchet discs 53 and 54 cause the gear 68 to move in one or the other sense, respectively. The bottom of the housing cover 33 and rim 35 of the housing being open, any suitable gear train may be engaged with gear wheel 88.

The above-described embodiment of my invention operates as follows.

Assuming that the electric motor 3| is operating, the crank shaft 40 which is directly connected to the motor revolves, and due to the reciprocating movement of the crank-pin gyratory slide 5| in the slideway 50 of rocker 49 the latter will oscillate continuously while the motor is in operation. If neither of the solenoids is energized, both cams 10 and 1| are in lowered position; therefore the cam rolls 61 and 68 are engaged with the low track cam portion 18a and 11a, respectively, with the result that both slides 51 and 58 are moved outwardly so that pawls 53a and 54a cannot engage the ratchet teeth of the discs 53 and 54, respectively. Under these conditions the rocker 49 oscillates freely but the drive shaft 46 vand gear 88 do not move.

iii, however, one of the -sole-noids, for example 85, senergiz'ed, the core member 36 moves upwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby lpulling up the cam Vl-I to the .position shownin Fig. 3. This action fof the cam 'il causes the cam roll 58 to be suddenly thrust inwardly toward the drive shaft `l5 into the position shown in the drawings, throwing the pawl lic under `one of the ratchet teeth ofthe disc eli. Due to the fact that the rocker del :esci-hates continuously, the pawl 54a will tur-n the ratchet disc, drveshaft li'rand gear 8-8 in counterclockwise direction, the maximum rotatory travel being equal to the spacing of one tooth on the disc 54, which for example in a 36- toot-h'ed -disc would be ten degrees, assuming that the rocker travel covers a single tooth. On the reverse movement of rocker 49 the pawl 54a, due to functioning of plunger 5th and spring 54o, slides over the next tooth on the disc and snaps under it into position for turning the disc, shaft, andgea-r 83 another tooth. However, should the solenoid Sii become deenergized at any time, the cam 'ifi will drop, allowing the cam roll to snap backinto the low track portion lla of cam 'H thereby withdrawing the pawl Ma from engagement with the disc 54, which will stop further movement of the gear l88. This retraction of patvl 5ta may take place at any time during the movement ofthe disc, as the case may be, depending on the time when solenoid 85 is deenergized.

t will now be evident that the other, parallel transmission train, namely that from solenoid 'il through cam lll, roll 6l, actuator 5l, pawl 53, ratchet disc 53, to gear wheel 88, functions in the manner described above for the other half of the present device, with thev difference that energizationof solenoid l? causes rotation of Wheel 538 in clockwise direction. Thus, energization of one solenoid or the other will instantaneously cause rotation of wheel 88 in one or the other direction, which motion is immediately stopped upon deenergization of the respective solenoid. Since any desired speed ratio lbetween the motion of shaft 4t and that of the controlled apparatus can easily be provided by conventional transmission links, the permitted minimum error or tolerance in regulatory movement can be kept above the magnitude of one step of the present device, corresponding in the above-def scribed example to a ten-degree rotation.

With both solenoids deenergized, wheel 8B is at rest and free to rotate in either direction.

With both solenoids energized, the rocker '49 is locked to both ratchet wheels, and shaft `i5 peri forms an oscillatory movement corresponding to the rocking angle.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which wall within the scope of the appended'c'la'ims.

1 claim:

1. A reversible actuating mechanism comprising a housing, a driving shaft journalled in said housing, a driven shaft mounted in `said housing, a rocker journalled on said driven Shaft, a slideii/'ay mounted on said rocker, a crank memher journalled in said slide way and drivingly connected to said driving shaft, -right and lefthand `p"a`wl ratchet wheels fixed to said driven shaft, right and left-hand pawl actuators mounted in said rocker, right and left-hand pawls resiliently mounted in said pawl actuators, said pawls being adapted to engage said right and left-hand pawl vratchet wheels respectively, resilient means tending to retain said `pawl actuaters -in positions which hold said pawls disengaged from said ratchet wheels, independent right and left-hand cam levers journalledon said driven shaft and having cam tracks, cam rolls mounted on said pawl actuators and engaging said cam tracks, cam actuators mounted on said housing and connected to said cam levers, and means for returning said cam levers to normal positions.

f2, A reversible `actuating mechanism comprisa mounting plate, 'an electromotor fastened to one side of said plate with its driving shaftextending therethrough., a housing fastened to the othersi'd'e 'of said plate, Va driving shaft journalled in said housing', a driven shaft mounted in said housing parallel to said `drivin-g shaft, a rocker journalled 'on said driven shaft, a slide way mounted on vsaid rocker, a crank memberf'c'onn'ected to said driving 'shaft and journalled :s'aid slide way., right and left-hand pawl ratchet wh'e'el's `fixed to said ydriven shaft, right and lef-t'- hand pawl actuators mounted in said rocker, right and left-hand pawls resiliently mounted irl-said pawl actuators, said pawls being adapted to engage said right and left-hand p'awl ratchetwh'eels respectively, independent right and left-hand cam levers iour-nalled on 'said driven shaft and having cam tracks, cam rolls mounted on Vsaid pawl actuators and engaging. said cam`tracks,.and car'n Vactuating solenoi'ds mounted on said housing and lcorme'cted to said cam levers.

3. An intermittent actuating 'mechanism comprising va housing, a 'driving 'shaft `iournalled lin said housing, a driven shaft mounted in said housing, a rocker iournalled on said drivenrshart, a slide way mounted' on sais'l rocker, `a crank-member :journalled infsaid slide way and d'rlivingly connected tosaid driving shaft, a ratchet wheel fixed to saiddriven shaft, va pawl actuator nfiourlrted in said rocker, 'a pawl resiliently mounted in said pawl actuator, said pawl being adapted to engage said ratchet wheel, resilient means tending 'to rei tain said .pawl actuator in a position which -holds said `pawl disengaged from ratchet wheel, :a cam lever journalled on said driven shaft and having ra cam track, a cam roll mounted Von's'aid pa-Wl actuator and engaging said cam track, and a cam actuator mounted 'on said lhousing connected to said cam rlever.

`4. 'A reversible actuating mechanism comprising a housing, a driving shaft journalled in :said housing, a driven shaft likewise journalled in said housing, fan oscillator journailed on said driven shaft, means connected to said driving shaft f'o'r continuously 'operating said oscillator, right and left-hand driven vcoupling members secured fto said driven shaft, right 'and left-hand driving coupling .members slidingly mounted in `said 'oscillator Afor movementinto and out 'of 'engagement Withisaiddriven coupling members, means tending to hold said driving coupling members out of said engagement, independent right vand flefthand cam levers journalled on said driven shaft, cam rolls mounted on said driving members and engaging said cams, and independent cam actuators `mounted in said housing for moving said driving Vinemhers into engagement against .'said holding means.

5. A reversible actuating mechanism comprising a housing, a driving shaft journalled in said housing, a driven shaft likewise journalled in said housing, an oscillator journalled on said driven shaft, a reciprocating driving member for conti'nuously operating said oscillator, right and lefthand drivable members secured to said driven shaft, right and left-hand driving members mounted in said oscillator and adapted drivingly to engage said drivable members when said members are in coupling position, independent right and left-hand cam levers, cam rolls mounted on said driving members and engaging said cams, and independent cam actuators mounted in said housing for moving said driving members into coupling position.

6. In actuating mechanism for reversibly driving a shaft from a continuously driven source of energy, the combination of coupling means fixed to said shaft and adapted to be driven in either direction, an oscillator adapted to be continuously rocked by said energy source, two driivng coupling means shiftably mounted on and moving with said oscillator and adapted drivingly t connect in one of their respective positions said energy source through said oscillator with said driven coupling means and said shaft, and cam means in continuous contact with said driving coupling means for shifting them into and out of said connecting position.

7. In actuating mechanism for intermittently driving a shaft from a continuously driven source of energy, the combination of a driven coupling means fixed to said shaft, an oscillator adapted to be continuously rocked by said energy source about said shaft, a driving coupling means shiftably mounted on and moving with said oscillator and adapted drivingly to connect in one of its positions said energy source through said oscillator with said driven coupling means and said shaft, and cam means in continuous contact With said driving coupling means for shifting it into and out of said connecting position.

8. In Eactuating mechanism for reversibly driving a rotatable transmission member from a continuously driven source of energy, the combination of an oscillator driven by said energy source, two coupling means slidably mounted on and moving with said oscillator and each adapted drivingly to connect in one of its positions said oscillator with said transmission member by movement radially of said transmission member one coupling means for rotation in one direction and the second for rotation in the other direction, and means in continuous contact with said coupling means for shifting either one -of said coupling means into and out of said connecting position.

9. In actuating mechanism for intermittently driving a rotatable circular transmission member from a continuously driven source of energy, the combination of an oscillator driven by said energy sour-ce, coupling means slidably mounted on and moving with said oscillator and adapted drivingly to connect in one of its positions said oscillator with said transmission member by movement radially of said transmission member and means in continuous contact with said coupling means for shifting said coupling means into and out of said connecting position.

10. A reversible actuating mechanism comprising a housing, a continuously rotatable shaft journalled in said housing, an intermittently operated drive shaft mounted in said housing, an oscillator pawl slide member journalled on said drive shaft, a gyratory slide member slidably engaged with said oscillator pawl slide member, a crank member journalled in said gyratory slide member being directly connected to said continuously rotatable shaft, right and left-hand pawl ratchet wheels xed to said drive shaft, resiliently held right and left-hand pawl slides mounted in said oscillator pawl slide member, resiliently held right and left-hand -pawls mounted in said pawl slides, said pawls being adapted to engage with said right and left-hand pawl ratchet wheels, independent right and left-hand cam levers journalled on said drive shaft, cam rolls mounted on said pawl slides and engaged with cam tracks located on said cam levers, cam actuators mounted on said housing and connected to said cam levers, and expansible members anchored in said housing connecting with said cam levers for the purpose of returning said cam levers to normal positions.

11. A reversible actuating mechanism comprising a housing, an intermittently operated drive shaft mounted in said housing, an oscillator pawl slide member journalled on said drive shaft, a continuously moving gyratory member slidably mounted in said oscillating member, a crank shaft journalled in said gyratory member and said housing, right and left-hand pawl ratchet wheels fixed on said drive shaft, resiliently held right and left-hand pawl slides mounted in said oscillator pawl slide member, resiliently held right and left-hand pawls mounted in said pawl slides, said pawls being adapted to engage with said right and left-hand pawl ratchet Wheels, independent right and left-hand cam levers journalled on said drive shaft, cam rolls mounted on said pawl slides and engaged with cam tracks located in said cam levers, cam actuators mounted in said housing and connected to said cam levers, and expansible members anchored in said housing connecting with said cam levers for the purpose of maintaining said cam levers in a normal position. Y

12. A reversible actuating mechanism comprisr ing a housing, an intermediately operated drive shaft journalled in said housing, an oscillator operator member journalled on said drive shaft, a continuously moving gyratory member slidably mounted in said oscillator operator member with means located in said housing for continuously operating said gyratory member, right and lefthand drive members secured to said drive shaft, right and left-hand drive member operators resiliently mounted in said oscillator operator member, independent right and left-hand 4cam levers journalled on said drive shaft, cam rolls mounted on said drive member operators engaging with said cams, and independent cam actuators mounted in said housing.

CARL F. HAMMANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the' i'lle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 316,089 Weston Apr. 21, 1885 863,782 Callan Aug. 20, 1907 1,689,882 MacFarland Oct. 30, 1928 

